Tool brush for vacuum cleaner



' Aug. 18, 1970 A. WOLF TOOL BRUSH FOR VACUUM CLEANER 2 SheetS- -Sheet 1 Filed April 18. 1968 FIG.|

' INVENTOR' LEE A. WOLF Pics L. A. WOLF 3,524,214

TOOL BRUSH FOR VACUUM CLEANER Aug. 18, 1970 Filed April 18, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 66 2O 64 26 47 30 m 28 24 52 IO 54 Mm r F|G.7 FIGB FIGS LEE A. WOLF ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,524,214 TOOL BRUSH FOR VACUUM CLEANER Lee A. Wolf, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Haley Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 722,424 Int. Cl. A47l 9/06 US. Cl. 15-368 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cleaning tool for use with a vacuum cleaner, such as a canister-type vacuum cleaner, comprising, a housing adapted for connection to an operating handle, for movement of the housing over the surface, such as a rug to be cleaned. The housing comprises a suction chamber with a brush mounted in the suction chamber. An outlet is provided in the housing communicating with the suction chamber through which the inlet air and debris from the surface being cleaned, is adapted to pass, with the brush being spaced from the upper defining surface of the suction chamber so that the inlet air and entrained debris passes up around the brush and over the latter, and then out the outlet. The brush body is of a streamlined configuration to facilitate the movement of the inlet air and entrained debris upwardly about the brush and out the outlet, reducing the turbulence of the air in the suction chamber.

This invention relates in general to a cleaning tool for use with a vacuum cleaner and more particularly relates to a cleaning tool including a cleaning brush mounted in the suction chamber of the cleaning tool, with the brush having a streamlined configuration for facilitating the passage of the inlet air upwardly about the brush and out the outlet in the tool, thereby increasing the cleaning efiiciency of the tool.

'Many types of cleaning tools adapted for use with a wand of a vacuum cleaner, such as a canister type vacuum cleaner, and which includes a cleaning brush mounted therein are known in the art. It is conventional in such prior art tool for the inlet air to be drawn in from the underside of the tool and then out the outlet of the tool. The conventional cleaning brush mounted in the tool often times interferes with the flow of inlet air through the tool to the outlet, and causes turbulence of the cleaning air as it passes through the tool, thereby decreasing the cleaning efliciency of the tool.

The present invention provides a novel cleaning tool including a brush mounted in the suction chamber of the tool and wherein the brush is of an air foil or streamlined configuration, for reducing resistance to the flow of the inlet air past the brush to the outlet in the tool, and for cutting down turbulence of the air flow within the suction chamber, thereby maintaining the efiiciency of the air flow in removing debris that has been picked up by the air to be carried to the outlet of the tool.

The tool in the embodiment illustrated is provided with jet orifice means for directing jet streams of inlet air from exteriorly of the tool diagonally downwardly into impinging relation with the underlying surface being cleaned, to cause a scrubbing and upward boiling action by the jet streams of air on opposite sides of the cleaning brush in the tool. Since the brush is of a configuration reducing the resistance of movement of the air and provides for cutting-down on the turbulence of the inlet air moving upwardly from the surface, the efiiciency of the air in carrying debris removed from the surface to the outlet in the tool is materially increased.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel cleaning tool for use with a canister type vacuum 3,524,214 Patented Aug. 18, 1970 cleaner, and which tool includes a cleaning brush mounted therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning tool which includes a cleaning brush having a novel configuration which reduces the resistance to air flow and decreases turbulence within the suction chamber of the tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel cleaning tool of the aforementioned type, wherein the tool housing includes a crowned suction chamber having a brush mounted therein for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, and wherein jet orifice means are disposed in the vicinity of the juncture of the crowned portion of the tool housing with the body portion thereof to direct jet streams of incoming air downwardly toward the planes of opposite sides of the brush, and with the brush having a tear drop configuration for anti-turbulent movement of the air upwardly from the surface being cleaned to the outlet of the tool.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel cleaning brush for a cleaning tool of a vacuum cleaner, wherein the brush comprises a body portion and a bristle portion extending downwardly from the body portion, and with the body portion being of a generally tear drop configuration in cross section for reducing turbulence of cleaning air in the suction chamber of the cleaning tool.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a brush of the aforediscussed type wherein the brush com prises an elongated body portion having means on the ends thereof for attaching the same in the suction chamber of the cleaning tool, and a bristle portion extending downwardly from the body portion, and wherein the body portion is of a bi-convex configuration in cross section.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the cleaning tool of the invention as coupled to a wand which in turn is attached as by means of a flexible hose to a canister type vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cleaning tool of the invention with the brush mounted therein;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partially broken, top plan view of the cleaning tool of FIG. 2, and illustrating in particular the jet orifices formed therein;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the cleaning tool of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the cleaning tool housing with the brush having been deleted from the illustration;

FIG. 6 is a sectional illustration showing the brush mounted in the suction chamber of the cleaning tool;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of the cleaning tool brush;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the brush of the cleaning tool;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 9-9 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the bi-convex configuration of the body portion of the brush;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 10-10 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 1111 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring again to the drawings, there is disclosed in the preferred embodiment of this invention a cleaning tool 10 attached as by means of a releasable coupling 12 to a wand 14 which in turn is attached to a flexible hose 16 coupled to a source of vacuum, such as a canister type vacuum cleaner 18.

The cleaning tool comprises a housing which may be formed of any suitable material, such as for instance, light-weight aluminum, and which includes a generally polygonal substantially fiat body portion 22, an elongated crowned portion 24 extending upwardly from the body portion 22 and defining a suction chamber 26, and a tubular-like exit portion 28, extending rearwardly from the crowned portion 24 and communicating with suction chamber 26 at an outlet opening 30 (FIG. 2). The body portion 22 may have an upstanding flange 32 adapted to receive thereon in snug frictionally mounted relation a bumper 34 formed of resilient material such as rubber, to protect surfaces engaged by the cleaning tool during movement of the latter over the surface being cleaned.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the bottom surface 36 of the tool may be generally planar with the suction chamber 26 opening onto said bottom surface. Diagonally extending passageways 38 may be formed in such bottom surface and extend from communication with the suction chamber 26 diagonally outwardly to terminate at the respective corner of the tool housing. Passages 44 may also be provided in the bottom surface of the tool which passages communicate with the suction chamber 26 and at their outer ends open onto the exterior perimeter of the housing, for providing suction action from the suction chamber at the side edge of the tool. Passages 38, 44 facilitate cleaning of difiicult access areas, such as corners and edges along walls and the like by the tool, thus increasing the cleaning efficiency of the tool.

The aforementioned crowned portion 24 may comprise a generally diagonally sloping front wall section 46 and a back wall section 46a with the front wall section 46 and back wall section 46a being connected by an upper wall section 47 and end wall sections 47a, and with the front, back and end wall sections merging at their lower ends with the generally planar body portion 22 of the tool housing.

Along the juncture at the front and rear wall sections of the crowned portion with the body portion in the tool there may be provided a plurality of spaced jet orifices 48, which extend from the exterior of the housing diagonally inwardly, as best seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, to communicate adjacent their inner ends with the suction chamber 26 adjacent the bottom of the suction chamber. Orifices 48 create jet streams of inlet air which are adapted to impinge against the surface being cleaned such as a nap of a carpet, to scrub the carpet by the jet streams of air, and cause upward boiling of debris material from the carpet, prior to movement of the intake air through the outlet opening 30 from the suction chamber. Orifices 48 are preferably angled at approximately 45 with respect to the horizontal and may be, for instance, of approximately inch diameter for creating the aforesaid jet streams of inlet air. As can be best seen from FIG. 3, the jet orifices 48 are preferably generally evenly spaced apart along the juncture of the crowned portion with the body portion of the tool housing, to more or less uniformly direct impinging jet streams of inlet air against the surface being cleaned. Also, it is preferably to have the jet orifices on opposite sides of the crowned portion disposed in generally opposing relationship with one another, so that the jet streams of intake air are directed to both sides of the suction chamber at the same general vicinit downwardly against the surface being cleaned. This not only aids in boiling the debris upwardly out of the carpet, but also aids in maintaining the mobility of the tool as the latter is moved across the floor in a ski-like eifect, without undue drag on the tool due to suction. The passages 44, 38 formed on the underside of the tool coact with the jet orifices 48 for completely cleaning the surface engaged by the tool, and enabling an effective cleaning operation 4 to occur as the intake air is sucked through the passages 44, 38 and jet orifices 38 into the suction chamber 26.

As may be best seen from FIG. 2, the tubular-like exit portion 28 extends diagonally upwardly in an outward direction at a relatively small angle with respect to the horizontal, thereby maintaining the exit portion 28 relatively close to floor level, materially increasing the debris pick-up ability of the tool and making the tool operative to readily remove high density debris, such as hair pins, staples, sand and the like from the rug, as the jet air streams from the orifices 48 boil or raise such debris upwardly from the rug. The lower periphery 50 of outlet opening 30 (FIG. 2) is substantially at floor level, providing for ready and highly eflicient movement of debris from suction chamber 26 through the outlet opening 30 and exit portion 28 of the tool. Likewise, the upper periphery of the outlet opening 30 merges smoothly with the upper defining interior of the suction chamber, as at 51 which also aids in the efiicient movement of debris and the flow of cleaning air from the suction chamber out through the opening 30 and exit portion 28.

The brush member 52 which includes an elongated body portion 53 and flexible bristle portion 54 extending downwardly from the body portion, is mounted in the suction chamber and extends lengthwise thereof, generally centrally of the suction chamber. Brush 52 may be adjustably mounted in the suction chamber for varying its vertical position with respect to the floor surface being cleaned. In the embodiment illustrated, this adjusting means comprises supports 56 secured to the ends of the suction chamber, and mounting screw-like rotatable means 58 which coact with threaded nuts 68 stationarily mounted on the bifurcated ends 62 of the brush body portion, so that upon rotation of the threaded screw members 58, the latter which extend through openings 63 in ends 62, coact with the threaded nuts 60 and move the brush vertically with respect to the suction chamber. As can be seen in FIG. 6, lugs 64!- are provided at the ends of the suction chamber which limit the upward movement of the brush into the suction chamber, thus insuring space as at 66 above the brush in the suction chamber, for permitting the movement of the incoming cleaning air and entrained debris cleaned out of the rug, upwardly above the brush and out the exit opening 30 from the suction chamber. The inwardly sloping front wall portion 46 and crowned interior configuration of the suction chamber also acts to direct the cleaning air and entrained debris in the suction chamber out the exit opening 30.

Referring to FIGS. 6 though 9, it will be seen that the aforementioned brush body portion 53 comprises a central section of bi-convex or generally tear drop configuration, so that as the cleaning air boils the debris upwardly from the rug on opposite sides of the brush, the smooth air foil convex sides of the brush body maintain the stability of the air flow, and decrease turbulence in the suction chamber. Turbulence tends to cause entrained debris in the suction chamber to separate from the air flow and fall out thereby decreasing its movement through the exit opening 38. As can be seen, the ends 62 of the body portion of the tool are generally rectangularin exterior configuration for receiving the nuts 60 therein in non-rotatable relation, while the central section is of the aforementioned bi-convex configuration about a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis. The sides of the central section of the brush body merge smoothly into an upper generally linear line 68 (FIG. 7) extending lengthwise of the brush body, thereby insuring the smooth flow of cleaning air above the brush and out exit opening 30. The bristles of the brush may be formed of any suitable material, such as for instance nylon of relatively stiff characteristics. The brush is adapted to rub the surface being cleaned both in forward and rearward movement of the cleaning tool along the surface being cleaned. As can be best seen from FIG. 6, the tear drop central section of the body portion of the tool is substantially the same length as the length of the bristle portion of the brush.

The tubular portion 28 of the housing may be readily coupled to and uncoupled from the wand 14 by the aforementioned coupling 12 which may encompass any suitable form of coupling mechanism, with the coupling member 12 receiving the outer distal end of the tubular portion 28 therein, in held relation.

From the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings it will be seen that the invention provides a novel cleaning tool for use with a vacuum cleaner and wherein the tool includes a novel tear drop configuration of brush which is oriented about a vertical axis, and which materially decreases turbulence within the suction chamber of the tool and improves the debris carrying characteristics of the cleaning air moving from the exterior of the tool inwardly into the suction chamber and out the outlet of the tool. The invention also provides a cleaning tool which has orifice means thereon for providing jet streams of inlet air to impinge upon the surface to be cleaned, causing debris to be boiled up from such surface on opposite sides of the brush, and with the air flow moving with the entrained debris to the outlet of the tool, for effectively cleaning a surface.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such term-s and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown and described or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a cleaning tool adapted for connection with a flexible hose of a suction type cleaner for use in the cleaning of a surface such as a rug and the like comprising, a housing, said housing comprising a base portion having a substantially planar bottom surface and a raised portion extending upwardly from said base portion, said bottom surface being adapted for sliding engagement with the surface cleaned, said raised portion extending lengthwise substantially transverse of the direction of movement of the tool and defining a suction chamber, said suction chamber opening onto said bottom surface in inwardly spaced relation to the outer periphery of said bottom surface, outlet means communicating with said chamber, said outlet means being adapted for connection to a vacuum source for exhausting said chamber, said chamber being of elongated configuration and having a forward defining surface and a rearward defining surface extending lengthwise in the general direction of lengthwise extension of said raised portion, said outlet means opening onto said rearward surface, brush means mounted in said chamber, and adapted for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, said housing including jet orifice means communicating with said chamber from exteriorly of said housing for directing jets of inlet air against the surface being cleaned prior to passage of the inlet air to said outlet means, said jet orifice means being disposed along said forward and said rearward defining surfaces of said chamber and opening into said chamber above said bottom surface for directing intake air on opposite sides of said brush means toward the surface to be cleaned, said brush means comprising an elongated body portion extending lengthwise of said suction chamber and a bristle portion extending downwardly fromsaid body portion, means on the ends of said body portion for mounting said brush means in said suction chamber, said brush means being spaced from the upper defining surface of said chamber for flow of inlet air from the forward side of said brush means upwardly over said brush means to said outlet means, passageway means formed in said bottom surface communicating with said chamber from points on the periphery of said bottom surface, said passageway means comprising at least one pair of passages each of which extends from a respective lateral end of said chamber to communication with the respective confronting side edge of said bottom surface for furnishing inlet air to both ends of said brush means, said body portion intermediate said mounting means on its ends being of a generally bi-convex configuration in transverse cross section, said bi-convex configuration providing for reducing turbulence in said suction chamber during movement of inlet air from said orifice means and from said passages to said outlet means.

2. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bristle portion is of substantially the same lengthwise extent as the lengthwise extent of said bi-convex configuration on said body portion.

3. A tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bristle portion is of a leser width than the maximum width of said bi-convex configuration of body portion.

4. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said end mounting means comprise bifurcated portions each of which defines a generally horizontally oriented slot, and means for selectively adjusting the vertical position of said brush means in said chamber, the last mentioned adjusting means including supports at each end of said chamber and rotatable means mounted on said supports coacting with said brush means for moving said brush means vertically in said chamber upon rotation of said rotatable means, each of said bifurcated portions of said brush means having a generally vertical opening extending therethrough in intersecting relation to the respective slot, said openings receiving said rotatable means therethrough in noninterferring relation, and each of said bifuracted portions mounting threaded means, such as a nut, in the associated slot, in nonrotatable relation, said threaded means coacting in threaded relation with said rotatable means whereby upon rotation of the latter with respect to said supports, said brush means and associated threaded means are moved vertically in said chamber.

5. A tool in accordance with claim 1, wherein said jet orifice means are so oriented on said housing and with respect to said chamber so as to direct jet streams of air toward vertical planes tangent to both sides of said brush means, said brush means extending lengthwise generally centrally in said chamber, said passageway means including at least a pair of said passages extending between each respective end of said chamber and the confronting side edge of said bottom surface, said passages of the last mentioned pair opening into said chamber on opposite sides of said brush means for furnishing inlet air to both sides of said brush means from both ends thereof.

6. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said raised portion is crowned in the lengthwise direction thereof, said outlet means including an opening disposed in said rearward defining surface, said forward defining surface including a portion disposed obliquely and sloping rearwardly in an upward direction, the periphery of said outlet opening being disposed adjacent said bottom surface of said housing and extending to substantially the uppermost extremity of the interior of said suction chamber.

7. A tool in accordance with claim 6 including means in said suction chamber limiting upward movement of said brush means for insuring predetermined spacing of said brush means from the upper defining surface of said chamber.

8. A cleaning brush adapted for mounting in the suction chamber of a cleaning tool of a canister type vacuum cleaner, said cleaning brush comprising an elongated body portion and a bristle portion extending downwardly from said body portion, means on the ends of said body portion for mounting the brush in the cleaning tool, said body portion intermediate said mounting means being of bi-convex configuration in transverse cross-section for reducing turbulence in the suction chamber and providing for smooth flow of inlet air by said brush, each of said mounting means comprising a bifurcated portion defining a generally horizontally oriented slot, each bifurcated portion having a generally vertical opening therethrough intersecting said slot, said slot in each bifurcated portion adapted to receive a threaded nut therein in axially aligned relation to the respective opening for mounting said brush in the suction chamber, said bristle portion being of a lesser width than the maximum Width of said bi-convex configuration of body portion and lying well Within vertical planes tangent to the sides of said body portion.

9. A brush in accordance with claim 8 wherein said bristle portion is of approximately the same lengthwise extent as the lengthwise extent of said bi-convex con- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1923 Wright 15398 X 11/1926 Higley 15398 3/1928 Wise et a1. 15-369 8/1938 Dyer 15-375 7/1939 Ellis 15375 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/ 1907 France.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X,R.

figuration of body portion, said bifurcated portions being 15 15 375 420 421 of block-like exterior configuration in end elevation. 

